How Nick Jarman is building trust across the trading card industry
Nick Jarman is Founder & CEO of the Certified Trading Card Association Inc, a nonprofit trade association serving businesses and collectors across the trading card industry. He discusses how CTCA won its early members, why the organization focuses on independently verifiable trust, and what he learned about disciplined growth.
In a growing industry, reputation alone may not be enough: businesses can build trust by making standards and safeguards independently verifiable. Jarman also learned to focus initiatives and build the right support before trying to do too much at once.
What’s the short story of how your business started, and what makes it genuinely different from the other options your customers have?
The Certified Trading Card Association (CTCA) was founded in 2025 after recognizing a critical gap in the rapidly growing trading card industry: the lack of an independent organization dedicated to establishing standards, building trust, and protecting the hobby’s long-term future. Unlike individual marketplaces, manufacturers, or platforms that primarily serve their own business interests, CTCA brings the entire industry together under one neutral, nonprofit trade association. Through independent certification programs, industry standards, education, and innovative consumer protection tools like the Global Trading Card Registry, we’re building the infrastructure needed to make the hobby safer, smarter, and stronger for generations to come.
How did you win your first customers, and where does most of your new business come from today?
We gained our first members through grassroots outreach, personal relationships, and direct conversations with business owners and industry leaders who shared our vision for a safer, smarter, and stronger trading card industry. What started as a small group of supporters has grown to more than 140 member organizations. Today, most of our growth comes from word-of-mouth referrals, industry partnerships, social media, and our presence at major trading card shows. Our growing credibility and relationships with industry leaders, including Fanatics, have helped accelerate awareness and attract businesses that want to be part of shaping the hobby’s future.
What’s one decision that changed the direction of your business, and one mistake that taught you the most?
The biggest decision was leaving my 27-year corporate career to dedicate myself full-time to building CTCA. It was a significant personal and financial risk, but I realized that if we were going to create something capable of transforming an entire industry, it deserved my complete commitment. The biggest mistake was trying to build too many initiatives simultaneously before establishing the infrastructure and team needed to support them. I learned that having a big vision is important, but disciplined execution, strategic focus, and surrounding yourself with the right people are what turn that vision into lasting impact.
What has changed in your industry or in what your customers expect over the last couple of years, and how have you adapted?
The trading card industry has experienced tremendous growth, but with that growth has come increased concerns about fraud, transparency, consumer protection, and accountability. Collectors and businesses are no longer satisfied with simply trusting someone’s reputation; they increasingly expect verifiable standards, education, and safeguards. We’ve adapted by moving beyond traditional trade association membership to develop practical solutions like our Certified Breaker and Trusted Retailer programs, along with the Global Trading Card Registry. Our focus is on turning trust from a marketing promise into something that can be independently verified, while helping businesses demonstrate their commitment to doing things the right way.
If you were advising someone starting out in your industry today, what would you tell them to do first, and what would you tell them to ignore?
I would tell anyone entering the trading card industry to focus first on building relationships, establishing credibility, and understanding the community they want to serve. This hobby is built on passion, but long-term success comes from trust, transparency, and consistently doing the right thing. Take time to learn the industry, listen to collectors and business owners, and build something that genuinely adds value. What I would tell them to ignore is the hype, the pressure to grow overnight, and the temptation to chase every new trend. Don’t measure success by social media followers or short-term profits. Build a reputation people can trust, because in this industry, your reputation will always be your most valuable asset.
Thank you to Nick Jarman and the team at Certified Trading Card Association Inc for sharing what actually worked with Leaders Perception readers.
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